Ayoub Khan

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Jeremy. I thank the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire (Chris Hinchliff) for securing this debate and for presenting a very persuasive argument. One of the biggest casework inquiries that I get in my constituency concerns the shortage of housing. Birmingham, which has the largest council in Europe, has an enormous housing issue—just look at the stats. In the west midlands region, we have 7,500 homeless families living in temporary accommodation, including 15,000 children. That has an impact on families and the children, who often live many miles from their school, with parents struggling to maintain their jobs because they have to escort their children to school. It will have a dramatic effect on our future generations. Birmingham has the youngest community, and I fear the impact that a lack of affordable homes will have on our next generation. There are 65,000 families on the social housing waiting list. I am sure the Minister will say that the West Midlands combined authority has received somewhere in the region of £400 million to develop and build 3,000 additional homes, which of course is welcome, but when we contrast the numbers with the requirements, it really is a drop in the ocean. There will also be private developers, but one of the biggest issues that I see and that my constituents feel is that it is not just about building homes anywhere just to meet the quota, but about building communities and ensuring we have the right infrastructure: GP surgeries, medical care facilities and local shopping centres. A whole infrastructure needs to be thought of. Planning is another big issue. The Labour Government often say they champion devolution and localisation and want local people involved in decision making. However, Birmingham is being asked to be anti-devolution, because planning powers could be given to the regional mayor. If that happens, it will take away that community on the ground who want homes where they fulfil all the criteria. May I quickly ask the Minister a question? I know we have limited time. The Perry Barr Village was developed at a cost to taxpayers of £700 million. It was sold to Legal and General at a loss to the taxpayer of £350 million. Will the Minister inquire into what happened with that loss of £350 million to Birmingham taxpayers?